Originally posted by NewsweekNew York Gov. George Pataki will introduce President Bush for his acceptance speech during the Republican National Convention next week. But NEWSWEEK has learned that Pataki would love a little role reversal. Sources say the governor recently held a strategy meeting with key advisers to discuss a possible presidential campaign in 2008. The session took place at the Water Club, a New York City restaurant, says one person with knowledge of the meeting. Attending with the governor were top political advisers Arthur Finkelstein and Charles Gargano, Pataki's economic-development chief.

In recent months Pataki has been stumping for Bush around the country, and plans to do more. "He's going to be moving around the country, and whatever that leads to, it leads to," said one Pataki adviser.

Kind of a RINO isn't he? I mean, I can't see the Red Staters sporting PATAKIO8 bumper stickers on the back of their pickups.

Besides, there'll be much more electable suit-stuffers around by then, with the likes of Rudy and Jeb (although Bush's incompetence has probably ruined it for the Bush oligarchy for the forseeable future) in the picture. Ditto for Ah-nuld if they change the foreign-born law prohibiting him from running.

Although, should the repubs be looking for a moderate, un-ideological candidate, Pataki would be in the top 5. Just can't see him making any hay in the race, however.

Kind of a RINO isn't he? I mean, I can't see the Red Staters sporting PATAKIO8 bumper stickers on the back of their pickups.

Besides, there'll be much more electable suit-stuffers around by then, with the likes of Rudy and Jeb (although Bush's incompetence has probably ruined it for the Bush oligarchy for the forseeable future) in the picture. Ditto for Ah-nuld if they change the foreign-born law prohibiting him from running.

Although, should the repubs be looking for a moderate, un-ideological candidate, Pataki would be in the top 5. Just can't see him making any hay in the race, however.

Pataki would be a damn train wreck. As for Jeb, he's a lot more smooth than George and, if George Bush were to win again and have a solid second term, would be a very viable candidate. Although I have a feeling that the GOP may go for someone else simply because a lot of people would vote against Jeb just because he's George's brother.

Kind of a RINO isn't he? I mean, I can't see the Red Staters sporting PATAKIO8 bumper stickers on the back of their pickups.

Besides, there'll be much more electable suit-stuffers around by then, with the likes of Rudy and Jeb (although Bush's incompetence has probably ruined it for the Bush oligarchy for the forseeable future) in the picture. Ditto for Ah-nuld if they change the foreign-born law prohibiting him from running.

Although, should the repubs be looking for a moderate, un-ideological candidate, Pataki would be in the top 5. Just can't see him making any hay in the race, however.

You could look at it another way as well, which is the states you just mentioned in the south are the states that vote Republican no matter WHO the candidate is. The thing that Pataki has a chance to do that a number of potential 2008 candidates can't do is make a dent in states like New York, Massachusetts and the Big 10 Union states with the chance of winning them.

Also, I'm a registered Democrat but I'd probably seriously consider voting Republican if Pataki is nominated. That's the other part of his viability as a candidate.

Originally posted by BWTI'm not really up on the republican party but to me it would make sense if Rudy Giuliani ran for president. He already has his name out there and he could actually bring NY for the Republicans.

I just don't think Rudy is Rpublican enough for the faithful and the leadership. Also the man has as many negatives to be used against him as Kerry.

Originally posted by BWTI'm not really up on the republican party but to me it would make sense if Rudy Giuliani ran for president. He already has his name out there and he could actually bring NY for the Republicans.

If there was a Presidential election in 2002, Rudy would have been able to win. In 2008, no chance.

Something that I've been tossing about in my mind: If Dubya loses and Kerry tanks, is there any chance that the GOP might send Dubya out there again, trying to repeat the feat of Grover Cleveland?

Originally posted by BWTI'm not really up on the republican party but to me it would make sense if Rudy Giuliani ran for president. He already has his name out there and he could actually bring NY for the Republicans.

If there was a Presidential election in 2002, Rudy would have been able to win. In 2008, no chance.

Something that I've been tossing about in my mind: If Dubya loses and Kerry tanks, is there any chance that the GOP might send Dubya out there again, trying to repeat the feat of Grover Cleveland?

I doubt it. He's too polarizing a figure. They'd most likely just want to move on and pick someone a little more electorally viable.

Originally posted by BWTI'm not really up on the republican party but to me it would make sense if Rudy Giuliani ran for president. He already has his name out there and he could actually bring NY for the Republicans.

If there was a Presidential election in 2002, Rudy would have been able to win. In 2008, no chance.

Something that I've been tossing about in my mind: If Dubya loses and Kerry tanks, is there any chance that the GOP might send Dubya out there again, trying to repeat the feat of Grover Cleveland?

I doubt it. He's too polarizing a figure. They'd most likely just want to move on and pick someone a little more electorally viable.

Depends how close the result is/how weak the field is in '08. Remember, the VP slot was there for Ford in '80, and he wasn't even an elected former President. I don't see a Reaganesque figure (plus, Reagan should have had the nomination in '76 anyway, but not getting it probably was for the best) in the '08 Republican field, so if Bush loses close, he probably has first crack at the nomination.Pataki has no shot of getting through Republican primaries. None.I despise Rudy. Always have, always will. Only positive quality he has is that he isn't David Dinkins. And he won't play well in Republican primaries.

Originally posted by BWTI'm not really up on the republican party but to me it would make sense if Rudy Giuliani ran for president. He already has his name out there and he could actually bring NY for the Republicans.

If there was a Presidential election in 2002, Rudy would have been able to win. In 2008, no chance.

Something that I've been tossing about in my mind: If Dubya loses and Kerry tanks, is there any chance that the GOP might send Dubya out there again, trying to repeat the feat of Grover Cleveland?

Not a chance. Not even close. Maybe if there were a 2002 election with a 30-day campaign. If you put Rudy through the oppo wringer like they do to presidential candidates he'd come out destroyed. I can name you ten things in his closet (not even closet, just stuff your average Oklahoma "Rudy's a hero because he was on TV on 9-11" voter doesn't know about) that would put him right out of the running - and not just in the primaries. Example: appointing a college-dropout pedophile to head an entire City Agency. And that's just for starters.

It's not even reflective of Rudy that much. Doing business in this town is dirty, and this kind of NYC politics - heck, urban politics in general - is stuff that's tolerated here, but not among most voters.

No matter how great a one day you have, you can't ride it to the Presidency. Hell, Rudy couldn't even ride it to the 90-day term extention he wanted.